2010 Kia Soul Sport

A practical, upbeat errand hopper.

Kia needs a “breakout” vehicle that—like Hyundai’s latest Sonata—finally achieves what marketers call front-of-mind awareness. Kia’s Borrego V-8 might have been that vehicle, had its debut not ­coincided with $4-per-gallon gas and the wholesale cratering of heavy-metal SUVs.

But hard on the butch Borrego’s heels comes the bubbly five-door Soul, awash in political correctitude and practicality. So excited is Kia about this car that it shipped one Korean-spec Soul to each of its 640 dealers just so buyers could peek at the thing before U.S.-legal cars alighted.

The Soul, which rides on a modified Rio platform, was styled in California and takes a pugnacious, upright stance that will naturally pit it against Scion’s xB and Nissan’s upcoming Cube. Compared with the latest xB, the Soul is 5.7 inches shorter and rides on two fewer inches of wheelbase. With the rear seats up and down, cargo volume is 19 and 53 cubic feet, respectively, versus the xB’s cargo room of 22 and 70 cubic feet.

The base Soul comes with a 122-hp, 1.6-liter engine mated to a five-speed manual. Amen­ities then accrue through three swankier models: the Plus (+), the Exclaim (!), and the Sport, all front-wheel drive. Naturally, we opted for a loaded Sport, which includes a 142-hp 2.0-liter, 18-inch alloys, and a suspension with stiffer springs, shocks, and bars. On the Sport, the only options are a four-speed automatic and a power sunroof, although Kia is keen to hawk 50-some dealer-installed gewgaws—everything from non-body-color side-view mirrors to “dragon tattoo” graphics. Soul prices range from $13,995 to $19,295.

Driving the Soul, there’s no sensation of being at the helm of a tall box, and the steering wheel (adjustable for rake only) isn’t as close to your torso as the xB’s. Speaking of steering, it’s terrific—nicely weighted and predictable, with crisp turn-in. The structure doesn’t feel particularly solid, but it proved rattle-free, and we love the cheerful red-and-black cabin, whose surfaces are way above average for a car of this price.

The shifter is vague, sloppy, and notchy. Shifting is no fun, although clutch takeup is light and predictable. Body motions are adequately controlled, and brake feel is good. The torsion-beam rear suspension occasionally loses its poise, and lateral grip is so-so, at 0.80 g. What the Soul hates is interstates, especially windy interstates.

The sprint to 60 mph equals, say, a Pontiac Vibe GT’s, and in traffic, the Soul is a willing ally—firm seats, great center-stack ergonomics, expensive-looking instrument panel, silky wiper and turn-signal stalks. The rear seats are comfortably upright, with terrific legroom and headroom for two.

The Soul isn’t the vehicle that will float all of Kia’s boats to fame and fortune—there’s a limit to what can be accomplished for less than 18 grand. But it is a practical, upbeat, errand hopper whose fun-to-drive quotient isn’t in the basement.